Setting Up an Operation in Thailand
HundredEast, an independent advisory firm in Bangkok, helps foreign companies set up in Thailand, planning premises, staff, permits and capital together.
Where this usually starts
Whether it is a foreign investor's first operation in Thailand or new capacity inside an existing company, establishing an operation requires decisions about premises, staffing, permissions, and capital to support the same operating plan. A building may be available before it is suitable. Construction requirements can change the budget, and a launch date can depend on work that has not yet been assigned or scheduled.
HundredEast turns the commercial requirements into an establishment plan covering premises, fit-out, staffing, permits and capital. It works with the investor and delivery teams to establish responsibilities, sequence the work and assess the cost and schedule consequences of delays or changes. Readiness to open is assessed against the operating requirements: suitable premises, the necessary equipment and people, required permissions, and clear responsibility for running the business. The assignment can cover a first operation in Thailand or additional capacity within an existing company.
Where establishment requires BOI promotion, foreign ownership approvals, land, or other legal, tax, or regulatory work, you engage the appropriate specialist firms directly. HundredEast coordinates their inputs around the operating plan and works through the consequences for the investment and schedule. The objective is to resolve those requirements before contractual commitments make changes expensive.
What gets decided
- The entity and ownership structure for the planned business activities, whether a branch, a subsidiary or a joint venture, with legal and tax advice
- Whether to pursue BOI promotion and which approvals under the Foreign Business Act apply, as confirmed by the relevant specialists
- Site and premises selection, including utilities, fit-out requirements and capacity for expansion
- The establishment budget, capital expenditure and working capital required through launch
- The sequence of permits, construction, recruitment and commissioning that determines the opening date
- Local leadership, staffing and delegated authority, with clear criteria for operational readiness
One engagement
A technology customer's new product program required a $20 million investment in a manufacturing setup in Thailand. The company rented an empty building shell. It needed substantial construction and modifications to accommodate the program's manufacturing requirements.
As head of the project management office, HundredEast's founder was personally accountable for executing the project within nine months. The scope covered the building modifications and manufacturing fit-out needed for the new program. This was an expansion within an existing company, with a defined budget and completion date. The building was fitted out and in production within the nine months, on budget.
How an engagement runs
- 01
A first conversation carries no fee and no obligation.
- 02
What follows is an independent review, a health check of the business case and the establishment plan, scoped in working days against a fixed fee agreed before it starts, ending in a written report that carries the diagnosis and the proposal for a mandate.
- 03
Mandate fees are then structured around the number of entities, countries, sites and people the work has to cover.
Hourly rates are excluded.
Coordinated specialists
Legal and intellectual property, audit and tax, customs, data protection, product registration and executive search. Each is handled by a specialist you engage directly, so you see their fees and contract with the people carrying the professional liability.
Before and after the setup
China Plus One
For manufacturers adding a second production site in Thailand.
Subsidiary Governance
Delegation of authority, reporting and accountability between headquarters and subsidiaries in Thailand, Asia and the West.
Turnaround & Restructuring
For owners and parent groups of loss-making businesses in Thailand and Asia, from the root cause of the losses to a recovery plan.
Considering opening an entity in Thailand?
Most engagements start with somebody describing a situation that looks a lot like the one above.
References are available on request. Introductions can be arranged, in advance.